Can Effexor trigger or worsen seizures?

Topic:

My doctor gave me Effexor XR and told me it wouldn't be harmful even though we think I might be having seizures. But I've heard a lot of bad things about antidepressants causing seizures, so I'm worried anyway.

Also, it doesn't seem to be helping my depression at all after several weeks of being on it. Could my depression actually be related to my neurological problems?

Comments

I just had to respond to you.....I just joined because I read this post as I am looking fro information on this medication. I had some major issues with this medication, it did make me have seizures. I was seizure free for 5 years I had completly stopped taking all antiepliptic medications while I was pregnant with my daughter BOTH TIMEs (and this was cold turkey, no weekng off the medication) I really knew my body and understood my limits with my epilepsy and it was not severe then. I suffered post partem after I had my children which is where the Effexor came into the picture. Once the dose reached 225mg is when the problem arose I had one seizure grand mal and two days later I had another one which I ended up in hospital. It was really bad resulting is major injury. Since they have had a very difficult time regulating my seizures and needless to say it has made my depression worse. So the moral of the storey....yes it has happened to another person out there it is an awful thing I now experience different types of seizures I am not sure if it is a result of injury or what but just get checked out!

I am on 225 of Effexor. I had 2 seizures about a year and a half ago. Then thanksgiving night I had another one. I have been told that Effexor foes lower the seizure threshold. I'm being weened off Effexor!

Hello Miranda~ I take Effexor XR and do have seizures not due to the drug though.I like it and it does seem to help me.I have never heard of anti depressants actually causing seizures...not saying that they cannot,I have just never heard of it.Have you seen a neuro?Has he done any testing on you?He would be the one to ask just to be safe.Good luck and God bless you

I've been seeing a neurologist, but haven't gotten the test results back. He told me Effexor would be safe, a I was on benzos before. I was taking Valium and Xanax, but my doctor chose to stop because thjose can cause withdrawel seizures and he thought they were causing my depression.

\r\n My husband suffers from anxiety attacks. They started him on Effexor and he's had two seizures each a month apart since he started this medication. He's 30 yrs old and has never suffered seizures. He's stopping the meds today despite the risks of stopping cold turkey. Hopefully he never has another seizure again. \r\n\r\n

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epihelp

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More than 1 year ago

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\r\n If seizures were provoked by a medicine like Effexor, I believe that stopping the medicine would stop the seizures. Most antidepressants have a slight risk of making person more susceptible to seizures, but the risk is very small. The risk of untreated depression is often higher. The use of antidepressants though need to be individualized and monitored.

Another point to consider, people with epilepsy have greater risk of depression than people without, and there's some research suggesting that depression could affect risk for epilepsy. Hope this helps!

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Lisa Warner Meyer

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More than 1 year ago

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\r\n Hi Miranda,

I've been taking Effexor ER for somwhere over a year. It does a great job helping with my depression issues. Last autumn I began having moments like someone flicked MY 'power switch' off and on. This happened frequently, no matter what I was doing. It lasted for months... Around April I my symptoms changed; they just did. Instead of the switch, is was like a 'woosh' going through my head. It would catch me off guard & the big ones catch my breath. After other testing drew up negative, I got in with neuro. My MRI was clear, but my EEG showed I was having seizures, even while asleep. No convulsions, greatfully. My doc put me on Tegretol for about a month before deciding to ween me from Effexor-after noticing a possible side effect was seizures. I'm almost done weening, but am still seizing. We are HOPING it's the Effexor causing them & discontinuing use will make them stop. But, I'm afraid once a med starts them, can just quitting make them stop?